Fountain mop



May 21, 1957 J. MICHAEL FOUNTAIN MOP Filed Aug. 19, 1954 4 INVENTOR. I

daL/ANM/CHAEL A TTORI United tates Patent 3 2,792,580 FOUNTAIN Mor than Michael, Malibu, Calif. ApplicationAug'ust 19, 1954, Serial No. 450,877

' 3 Claims. (c1. -129 The invention relates to a fountain mop which, if de sired, may provide also a container for cleansing material such as a suitable soap or detergent distributed by flow of water through the container. The novel mop is designed more especially for vehicle body washing purposes, as in the case of motor cars; but is equally applicable to other purposes. It is usable with clear water alone; or, with a suitable solution, in which case soap or detergent may be supplied from the mop itself.

The invention has for an object to provide a mop mounting, at the outer end of a tubular handle member supplying water, which will allow maximum movement of the mop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple mounting member for the mop and one which will admit of simple and convenient attachment and detachment of a mop respectively to and from the mounting member, in the latter instance for cleansing of the mop or its replacement when this becomes necessary-all without the use of any tools.

A still further object of the invention is to associate with the mop a suitable container for soap or detergent material; and to so locate the container that it will receive readily water discharged from the outer end of the handle member.

The invention has for an object, also, the provision of a fountain mop of simple and relatively inexpensive construction and which will be serviceable and dependable in operation.

In carrying out the invention, a tubular handle member is provided at one end with a coupling element, for example, for a hose connection afiording a source of water supply to the mop. The latter is rockably and detachably supported at the opposite or discharge end of the handle member, through a novel mop-retaining frame member of generally W-shape having an extended intermediate portion adapted to lit in a bearing provided by flattening out said opposite or nozzle end of the handle member and turning it back upon itself.

The mop, which may be of any suitable wiping material, is of bendable and more or less flexible construction and has an axial opening therethrough so that the opposite ends of the mop may accommodate corresponding free ends of the retaining frame elements which extend at either side thereof. In assembling the mop to the handle member, it is to be fitted tightly over said free ends bending the mop into a more or less U-shape member with the legs thereof becoming directed inwardly beyond the bearing end provided by the handle member. A pair of tapes of suitable material and with an end secured firmly to a corresponding manually together, serve to prevent the mop from riding outwardly on its retaining frame. This is further prevented by bending inwardly slightly the outer end of each of the side portions of the W-shape retaining member. The mop will thus substantially surround the nozzle end of the handle member; and when water is caused to flow therethrough, the mop will become thoroughly satend of the mop will, when tied ice urated for use. T 0 supply soap or detergent at the same time, a container for such material is provided on the inner portion of the mop and is so positioned thereon that when the mop has been applied, it will lie substantially opposite the nozzle discharge.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel fountain mop mounted on a water-supplying handle member, portions of the body of the mop and handle being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section, taken on the line 2-4, Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mop element.

'Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the mop element, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the outer end of the handle member.

Referring to the drawings, 19 designates an elongated tubular member constituting the manipulating handle in the operation of the mop. It is provided to this end at its outer end with a hose coupling 11 for connection to a hose or the like (not shown) as a source of water supply in using the mop. At its inner or discharge end 12, member 11) has been cut horizontally as at 13 and fiattened longitudinally inwardly at 14 above the cut upon the remaining wall portion to afford a discharge opening 15. This flattened portion is then rolled over at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle member to provide a bearing 16 at right angles to said axis. In this bearing is seated and held rockably the intermediate horizontal portion 17 of a generally W-sh'ape mop-retaining frame or member 18, having the arms 19 and 20 upon opposite sides of portion 17.

The mop 21 may be of conventional material and design, as shown; but it is provided with an axial, and more or less cylindrical, opening 22 therethrough which is designed to accommodate at its respective opposite end portions arms 19, 20 of the retaining member, as is shown in Fig. 1. It is preferred to bend slightly inwardly the extreme end portions of said arms 19, 20, as is indicated, to help retain the mop on its frame; and this is further insured by securing respectively a tape 22' and a tape 23 to the opposite ends of the mop, which tapes are then to be tied together as shown. T o replace a mop, said tapes are first untied, whereupon the mop may he slid off arms 19, 20 manually.

Where it is desirable to make use of a soapy solution, mop 21 may carry a suitable container such as the swin ably suspended cloth bag 24 designed to retain soap or detergent material. Such bag will then be located, preferably, on the underside of the mop and directly opposite the discharge end of handle 10 in order that the water discharged thereby will readily reach said bag to distribute its contents.

1 claim:

1. A fountain mop comprising the combination with an elongated, tubular handle member transversely partly cut through a slight distance from the discharge end and the portion between the cut and the discharge end being flattened into contact, the contacting portion at its extreme outer end being rolled inwardly over a section of itself at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle member to afiord a right-angle bearing element, the said handle member being provided at its end opposite the discharge end with a coupling element for connection to a water supply; of a generally W-shape, mop-retaining frame supported intermediate its sides by the right-angle bearing element to rock about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle member; and a flexible elongated mop with an axial opening therethrough, the end portions of the mop being secured detachably over the respective free ends of the sides of said retaining frame.

2. A fountain mop according to claim 1, wherein tapes are attached respectively at the opposite ends of the mop and tied about the discharge end of the handle member to prevent withdrawal of the mop from its retaining frame when said tapes are thus secured to each other.

3. A fountain mop according to :claim 1, wherein the mop substantially midway its end is provided with a porous flexible container for retaining cleansing material, which container is suspended to swing from the wall'of the mop and face the discharge end of the handle member, with mouth opening contiguous to the said wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

